RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Biliary cirrhosis (BC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease, in which hepatic fibrosis is an early symptom. This study aimed to identify the biological function and the therapeutic effect of a Chinese traditional medicine, HuaGanTongLuoFang (HGTLF), in a mouse model of BC. METHODS: The mice (n = 72) were randomly divided into a sham group (n =12) and BC group (n = 60). The animals in the BC group were then randomly divided into five groups (n = 12 in each) and treated with three different doses of HGTLF, ureodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), or normal saline (the model group). Four weeks later, serum and liver tissues were obtained from all the animals for analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to quantify the hepatic morphology, while real-time PCR and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to determine the level of hepatic fibrosis-related genes. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, all three doses of HGTLF improved hepatic function, as well as reducing inflammation and fibrogenesis. The best therapeutic effect was observed in the high-dose HGTLF group. Furthermore, HGTLF contributed to down-regulation of hepatic fibrosis-related genes (platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF], transforming growth factor-ß [TGF-ß], p38, nuclear factor-κB [NF-kB], intercellular adhesion molecular-1 [ICAM-1], and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1]). CONCLUSION: The data suggested that HGTLF effectively improved liver function and the morphology of the liver tissue in a mouse model of BC, possibly via suppression of hepatic fibrosis-related signals.